The smell of this area had a pungent sewer like stench that invaded my nose. It didn't help with the fact this place was also dark with little to no light, the only light that could illuminate this area was the modest lighter I clutched tightly. My surroundings resembled something like a cave with ragged stone haphazardly placed in inconvenient footings with faint evidence of dripping water. The entrance to this place was grand and a marvel to look at, but if you entered a place like this? You would want to escape without looking back. Unfortunately, I cannot escape, because the way to the entrance was blocked off by stone that had emerged from the ground.
"You've gotta be f#ing with me at this point!"
I turned to look back, only to be treated with a gaze of curiously hungry eyes staring right back.
"Hahh... If only women looked at me the same way!"
[ You have encountered 43 Murodents!]
I managed to confirm multiple things: number one, currently I know that the game is similar to something like dungeons and dragons; number two, I was forced into a tutorial and was forced to pick the worst starter gear offered; and lastly number three, I'm f#d, not once have I ever swung a sword, so how the hell do I have talent for this? I have to calm myself, since the situation won't make itself any better if I keep worrying.
There's 43 of them and 1 of me. The bronze sword I'm currently carrying right now feels like it weighs around 1 kilo or 2 kilos. Thankfully, I haven't been an inactive lazy sh#@ on earth, so I should manage swinging a 2kg sword! I also have fire to assist me if necessary.
"Please just send me back home...."
[ 43 mobs have shown hostility towards you! ]
[ You are currently engaged in combat! ]
The pitter-patters of their feet and hands freakishly grew in unison. Their movements in-sync, and all senses locked onto me: the unfortunate target. The noise grew louder, the grinding of teeth, itching of excitement and gnawing of fingernails was persistent.
An evident attempt of confusing their prey.
The encirclement only grew tighter, and it was clear that the first swing or first attempt of an attack would be a deciding factor of who is most likely to survive. The concise tempo and beat of their encirclement was noticeable. I can read their patterns with ease.
1, 2, 3, 4 steps and 10 move accordingly. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 5 peeked at the prey. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 20 move. Their attempts of drowning out the sound of their movements was poor - their feet were heavy, and they didn't account other factors such as the unequal footings on the floor, tight gaps between rocks and the small splash of the minute puddles on the ground.
And a final critical factor, they have terrible balance. These creatures are mutants - their bodies mismatched with displaced joints and ligaments as well as uneven proportions - it was as if they were created in a hurry, all compact into the frame of a toddler.
I made my decision, and it was to attack the murodents first.
Not once had I swung a sword. A knife to chop meat and vegetables, perhaps, but not a sword designed for warfare and protection.
I approached the smaller batch of 10 that were closest to me first. The murodents had abandoned the small trench they had hid themselves in and unleashed a flurry of attacks: sharp blackened nails and jagged teeth lunged at the different parts of my body from feet to forehead, but their attacks couldn't reach as I carefully paced myself backwards. Their small arms were too short to reach my eyes and head, so the next best target was my feet.
4 attacked first but were easily blocked by my sword; then the next 4 attacked but were again blocked by my sword. 2 of them stayed behind the 8 that were on the offensive waiting for the other 33 murodents to catch up...
4 attacked with their teeth and claws and so did the next. I blocked once more and threw 2 that clung to my sword off to my right and finally swung horizontally - beheading the 2 remaining in the attack - I picked up the pace and messily butchered the 2 other murodents on my side whilst anticipating the next 4 to attack.
[ You have killed 4 Murodents! ]
[ You have received:
+ 8 EXP
+ 8 Coins ]
The next 4 with no interval rushed to me in order to catch me off guard... However, with one swing of my sword I managed to single handedly and terribly wound them rendering them incapable of moving. The murodents were thin and easy to slice through, it was as if I was slicing through a morsel of fish and fileting it, my swordsmanship was messy of course so I couldn't say I made clean precise cuts; however, the fact of the matter is, these creatures had low hp. Meaning that I can clear through them with relative ease.
I finished off the 4 that were struggling and made my way to the 2 that had been on guard waiting for...
[ You have killed 4 Murodents! ]
[ You have received:
+ 8 EXP
+ 8 Coins ]
"I suppose I can't exactly take you for inept creatures."
The rest of the murodents were already there, eagerly watching how I performed against the 8 that had originally attacked... I suppose this is a necessary procedure for this weaker creature to go through so that they can effectively evaluate the level of the prey they hunt. It is a cowardly and unjust method, but I suppose this is the best for them - sacrificing 8 of their own so that they can feed the majority must be the best they can think of.
I raised my sword and grasped it firmly - anticipating for their response.
Their accumulated noise grew louder, only for it to suddenly stop. I could hear individual droplets of water falling onto the ground...
The murodents were in complete silence.
...
The adrenaline was coursing through every fibre of my body, and I could taste my own vigor! I felt alive in this moment like my body yearned to swing a blade against a formidable opponent no matter the size!
{ PPLaaaYREER |-|asssHAS | HARMONIZED | w/// WEPPAPON | Bronze Sword | }
{ | INNATE | t4aaalLennn7T Hsssa mamn . . . MANIFESTED! }
{ | Path: Master of The Sword ( ? / 12M EXP) | ppqpa4thhh In1tiaiated duuu3 t2o t?lent5, plr wlll allls0 gAIN | Multiplier Buff | bcauuusea ovf taaalLnts . . . }
"Agh! These separate screens again?!" (...) "Master of the sword?"
For only a second, I was distracted and the murodents had already carried out their attack. One second was all they needed, within that interval, they would simultaneously bear their arsenal to me with complete intent to tear my being into shreds.
I refocussed, brought my sword to my front and swung diagonally taking out 3 murodents and leaving 2 injured. The swing of my sword felt more precise this time, like I had truly meant that swing instead of flimsily swaying about uncontrollably with one hand.
"What is this?"
I struck at the large groups of murodents once more: taking another; then another; then 4 of them out consecutively. I kept count of the patterns, the beat and tempo of their attacks, but as I expected it remained unchanged. Although the murodents were cunning strategists - they couldn't make up for their less impactful attacks and rather relied on ambushing and confusion to take out their prey.
This battle turned into a one-sided match as my confidence with the sword grew. The piles of murodents stacked higher and higher with each of my one-handed swings becoming more accurate... Until only 3 remained.
My hand still firmly grasping the bronze sword and my other hand holding the lighter which made the sight of them clear as days - the murodents stared with an expression of utter fear and discontent - eyes that pleaded for mercy yet would never offer mercy themselves. The cruel natural order of this game was more apparent as I kept marching towards them as this was how we were fated to play.
"You had the resolve and hunger to live... And I commend you for that, but this was always how it would end" (...) "My will to live is bigger than yours, I'm here to survive this game and make it back to my world."
I raised my sword a final time and slashed deeply into the 3 remaining... The floor was littered with the remains of the murodents: the stench of the aftermath was putrid and ghastly that it made me gag several times, but at least it was over - I could finally catch my breath and progress further down the tutorial.
[ You have killed 35 Murodents! ]
[ You have received:
+ 70 EXP
+ 70 Coins ]
[ Would you like to see your Stats? ]
"Yes."
Before I head further down and pass through this cave, I should at least allocate any stat points I have to some stats.
[ Loading Player Stats . . . ]
. . .
Ok... This is taking a while.
. . .
[ ! ] ping
[ We have come across an error! ]
[ Player does not exist in the database! ]
...What?